Desperate 0-1 Teams?
By Kevin Rogers
With one week in the books, many fans want to jump to conclusions following a win or loss in the NFL. However, with things changing from week-to-week over the next four months, it's tough to count anybody out. There are a handful of playoff-type teams that dropped their opener and return home looking to avoid an 0-2 hole. We'll start in Minnesota with a Vikings' squad that fell short in their opener coming back to the Metrodome looking for their first victory.
Dolphins at Vikings (-5 ½, 39 ½) - 1:00 PM EST
Minnesota has been off since last Thursday's 14-9 loss at New Orleans, as the Vikings look to regroup against the 1-0 Dolphins. Miami picked up an important division victory at Buffalo, as the Dolphins' schedule gets extremely difficult over the next seven games. The Fins make their first trip to the Metrodome since 2002 when Miami fell, 20-17.
The Vikings were outgained by 55 yards against the Saints, while committing twice as many turnovers as New Orleans. Brett Favre did show some rust in the season opener, completing 15 of 27 passes for 171 yards. The Vikings finished last regular season at 5-2-1 ATS in home games, while going 8-0 SU. Minnesota did bounce back nicely after a loss in 2009, compiling a 3-1 SU/ATS mark.
The Dolphins managed to shut down one of the league's weaker offenses by holding the Bills to 166 yards. Ball control was an important key to Miami's win, as the Fins held the ball for nearly 37 minutes. Under Tony Sparano, the Dolphins own a solid 10-3 ATS as a road underdog, but all three of those losses did come in September.
Ravens (-2, 40) at Bengals - 1:00 PM EST
These two AFC North rivals hook up under different circumstances following the opening week. Baltimore scratched out a 10-9 victory at New York on Monday Night, while Cincinnati was thoroughly manhandled in the first half of a 38-24 setback at New England. The Bengals go for their third straight win over the Ravens after sweeping Baltimore last season.
The Ravens' offense wasn't particularly stellar by racking up 282 yards, while the defense held the Jets to 176 total yards and six first downs. Baltimore finished last season at 4-6 SU/ATS on the highway, but the Ravens faced playoff teams San Diego, New England, Minnesota, Cincinnati, Green Bay, and Indianapolis away from home. Baltimore had problems scoring against Cincinnati in the two defeats last season, totaling 21 points in two games that easily finished 'under' the total.
The Bengals outgained the Patriots by 52 yards (428-376), but Cincinnati allowed a pair of non-offensive touchdowns in the 14-point loss. Despite falling as a four-point underdog in Foxboro, Marvin Lewis' team is 7-3 ATS since the start of last season when receiving points.
Cardinals at Falcons (-7, 43) - 1:00 PM EST
Atlanta is expected to do big things this season inside the NFC, but got off to a rocky start by losing at Pittsburgh in overtime as a short road favorite. The Steelers were able to win without the suspended Ben Roethlisberger, while racking up 354 yards of offense against a supposed improved Falcons' defense. Arizona, meanwhile, struggled to pull out a 17-13 win at St. Louis, the first game of the post-Kurt Warner era.
The Falcons were unable to run the ball against a tough Steelers' defense, as Michael Turner was limited to 42 yards on 19 carries. Atlanta was held out of the end zone for the first time since a 24-9 setback at Carolina in Week 4 of the 2008 season. Mike Smith's team has been a strong play at the Georgia Dome since his arrival two seasons ago, compiling an 11-5 ATS and 13-3 SU mark.
The Cardinals put together a solid effort offensively, albeit against a weak Rams' club, piling up 378 yards, including 112 on the ground. Each team turned the ball four times, as Arizona fumbled the ball seven times in the win. Arizona is 11-8-1 ATS as a road 'dog under Ken Whisenhunt, including a 4-1-1 ATS ledger last season.
Bears at Cowboys (-8 ½, 41) - 1:00 PM EST
Dallas slipped up in its season opener at Washington, falling to the Redskins by a 13-7 count as 3 ½-point road 'chalk.' The Cowboys return home to host a Bears' team that rallied past the Lions, 19-14 at Soldier Field. Lovie Smith's club was on the fortunate side of a Calvin Johnson touchdown that was ruled incomplete in the final minute that would have given Detroit its first road victory since 2007 (which coincidentally came in Chicago).
The only touchdown allowed by the Cowboys on Sunday night was a fumble return by DeAngelo Hall to end the first half, as Dallas outgained Washington by 130 yards. Under Wade Phillips, the Cowboys are 11-4 ATS and 12-3 SU at home against teams outside the NFC East, including a 4-1 SU/ATS record last season. Dallas has taken care of business when laying at least a touchdown, as the Cowboys are 6-1 ATS since November 2008 in this pointspread range.
Chicago has not performed well in the role of a road underdog over the last two seasons, owning a 1-8-1 ATS mark. It's one thing if the Bears can't cover these numbers away from the Windy City, it's another issue that Chicago scored 15 points or less in all five games as a road 'dog in 2009.
Jaguars at Chargers (-8, 45 ½) - 4:15 PM EST
Jacksonville pulled out a 24-17 win over Denver, the first cover as a home favorite for the Jags since 2007. Jack Del Rio's team travels out west to battle a Chargers' squad that slipped up in Monday's 21-14 at Kansas City as four-point road favorites. Playing on the highway has not been a good thing for Jacksonville, especially on the left coast.
The Jags were outscored 61-3 in a pair of losses out west last season at Seattle and San Francisco, as Jacksonville was 2-6 SU and 3-5 ATS on the highway in 2009. Coming off a home victory is not a good sign for Jacksonville backers, as the Jags are 1-7 ATS since December 2007 in this situation. Despite David Garrard's three touchdown passes, the Jags were outgained by 64 yards against Denver, but the Broncos committed two costly turnovers in the loss.
The Chargers allowed two big plays in Monday's setback to the Chiefs, including a punt return touchdown from rookie Dexter McCluster. San Diego limited Kansas City to 197 total yards, but the Bolts return to Southern California looking for their first victory in a home opener since 2007. The Chargers own a 5-4 ATS ledger under Norv Turner at home off a road defeat, as San Diego lost in its only opportunity in this situation by falling to Denver, 34-23 last season.
Patriots (-2, 39) at Jets - 4:15 PM EST
New England put up one of the more dominating performances in Week 1 with its convincing victory over Cincinnati. Meanwhile, the Jets failed to back up the offseason Super Bowl chatter with a 10-9 home loss to the Ravens. New York gets a second shot in a week to win its first game at the new Meadowlands.
Last season in Week 2, the Jets knocked off the Patriots, 16-9 as three-point underdogs. That victory helped vault Rex Ryan's team to a 3-0 start, before the Jets dropped six of seven. New York's biggest issue last season was beating division foes, finishing 2-4 SU/ATS against the AFC East, as the Jets play three straight division rivals over the next three weeks.
The Patriots ended last season at 2-6 SU on the road, with one of those victories coming in London over the woeful Bucs. Bill Belichick's squad is 23-12 ATS the last four seasons on the highway, including a 9-3 ATS mark inside the division. The Pats have owned this series in New Jersey, going 8-1 SU/ATS the last nine road meetings.
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